Calla Lily plant named ‘Black Star’

ABSTRACT

‘Black Star’ is a new variety of calla lily having a flower with a purple/black colored spathe and a purple/black colored spadix and producing 1-4 flowers per tuber. The flower stems are red and about 50 cm in height. The leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture. On the edge of the leaves there is a red stripe. The petioles have a red to black color.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Black Star’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and herein afterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Black Star’.

‘Black Star’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for cut flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989 and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe cross of a Zantedeschia sprengeri variety known as ‘Schwarzwalder’female patent (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,001), with a Zantedeschiasprengeri seedling, male parent. ‘Black Star’ was orginated in 1998 bythe inventor Cecilius Jan-Jochem Randag in 't Zand, The Netherlands asone flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

Table 1 provides a comparison of the new variety to its parents:

TABLE 1 Similarities Differences Female Parent Leaf shape Darker spathecolor Plant height Darker peduncle and petiole color Dark leaf edge Maleparent Dark leaf edge Leaf shape Peduncle color Flower color Plantheight

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Black Star’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in August 2000 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproduction by tissue culture at thesame location has demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Black Star’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Deep purple spathe;

2. Deep purple spadix;

3. Red flower stem;

4. Red edge on the leaves; and

5. Red/black petiole of the leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type.

FIG. 1 illustrates the flowers of the new variety;

FIG. 2 illustrates the underside of a mature leaf, and

FIG. 3 illustrates the underside of a young leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditionswhich approximate those generally used in horticulture practice. The newvariety was 3 years old when described. Color references are made to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

THE PLANT

Size:

Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—50-65 cm.

Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—60-75 cm.

Diameter.—30-40 cm.

Form.—Erect.

Number of inflorescences per tuber size:

Length 9-12 cm.—0-1 inflorescences.

Length 12-15 cm.—1-3 inflorescences.

Length 15-18 cm.—3-4 inflorescences.

Branches:

Number.—Average.

Color.—Between 143A and 144A with spots of 53A.

Leaves:

Size.—Width: 11-15 cm. Length: 20-30 cm.

Number per plant.—4-10.

Shape.—Elliptic.

Color.—Upper surface: Betwen 137A and 137B. Lower surface: Between 137Aand 137B. Speckling: Between 157A and 157C.

Margin.—Wavy, having an edge color between 187A and 187B.

Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Between 144A and 53A.

Surface quality.—Leathery.

Petiole:

Length.—30-50 cm.

Color.—Base is 53A, upper part varies between 53A and 202A.

Roots:

Color.—White.

Branching.—Average; similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

THE FLOWER

Spathe:

Size.—Length: 8-10 cm. Width: 5-7 cm.

Color.—Upper surface: Varies between 187A and 202A. Lower surface:Varies between 187A and 202A.

Veins.—Color: Varies between 187A and 202A.

Shape.—Cupped.

Spadix:

Size.—Length: 20-45 mm. Diameter: 3-7 mm.

Color.—187A.

Position relative to spathe.—Upright.

Peduncle:

Size.—Length: 50-65 cm. Diameter: 8-10 mm.

Color.—Varies between 53A and 202A.

Reproductive organs:

Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.

Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.

Stemens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More than50. Pollen: Amount: Similar to ‘Schwarzwalder’, less than ‘Pot of Gold’.Color: 155A to 155B. Anther: Shape: Wire-like. Length: Less than 1 mm.Color: Between 155A and 155B. Filament: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:Between 155A and 155B.

Pistil.—Number: 20-40. Length beyond perianth: About 1 mm. Stigma:Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm. Style: Length: Less than 1 mm.Color: 187A. Ovaries: Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm.Width: Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top: 187A. Bottom: 193B.

Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between 187A and 187B.Amount: Between 1 to 25.

GENERAL

Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in Februaryproduce flowers in April. Tubers planted outdoors in The Netherlands inMay produce flowers in July.

Lastingness: About three weeks on the plant.

Fragrance: None.

Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or pestshas been noted to date.

Winter hardiness: None.

Drought/heat tolerance: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct calla lily plant named ‘Black Star’ asherein described and illustrated.